DALLAS-Elson Gregson cemented his status as AFL MVP with three touchdowns in leading the Dallas Desperados to the American Conference championship over the San Jose Sabercats 27-19.
The Game began with Horace Evers fielding a short San Jose kickoff and returning it 27 yards to midfield. But the Desperados went three-and-out and Arman Wilcox's punt was downed at the Sabercats 2-yard line. San Jose then moved the ball 93 yards on 7 plays, and Ethan Wycoff kicked a 22-yard field goal to put San Jose up 3-0 with 9:43 remaining in the first quarter. Dallas would then turn the ball over as Heinie Voorhees was picked off by Rod Gaines at the Desperados 40-yard line. Following a three-play, nine-yard drive, Wycoff kicked a 48-yard field goal to extend the lead to 6-0 with 6:43 remaining in the first. Dallas would then respond with a 9-play, 80-yard drive ending with a 4-yard touchdown run by Gregson to take a 7-6 lead with 2:20 left in the first quarter.
San Jose would answer back with a 7-play, 67-yard drive. Alan Sale ended the drive with a 1-yard touchdown run to take a 13-7 lead with 14:18 to go in the second quarter. Both teams punted, and Abdul Hanna would take the ball 70 yards to the Sabercats 3-yard line. On the following play, Voorhees hit Gregson for a 3-yard touchdown pass to give Dallas a 14-13 lead with 11:26 remaining in the half. San Jose drove into scoring range, but Wycoff's 48-yard field goal attempt was partially blocked and missed. The Desperados then drove 31 yards on 7 plays, and Greg Hall would kick a 48-yard field goal to take a 17-13 lead with 5:02 to go in the second quarter.
San Jose got the ball to start the second half, and looked to take the lead, but Timmy Carey was intercepted by Golden Reinhart who returned it 13 yards to the Dallas 14-yard line. The Desperados would punt, then the Sabercats would go on a 9-play, 40-yard drive. Wycoff would end the drive with a 24-yard field goal to make it 17-16 with 5:56 to go in the third quarter. After a 44-yard kickoff return by Whitey Goldberry, Dallas went on a 12-play, 46-yard drive ending with a 19-yard field goal by Hall to make it 20-16 with 1:25 to go in the third.
San Jose would punt early in the fourth, then Dallas drove for another score. But Hall would miss a 49-yard field goal attempt. San Jose then attempted to drive for a touchdown, but Carey was picked off in the end zone by Stanley Flint. The Desperados then drove 80 yards on 16 plays. Gregson ended the drive with a 1-yard touchdown run to make it 27-16 with 1:11 left in the fourth quarter. The Sabercats fielded a short kickoff, and drove 35 yards on 7 plays. Wycoff kicked a 30-yard field goal with 6 seconds left to make it 27-19. San Jose then attempted an onside kick, but it failed and Dallas punched their ticket to the Arena Bowl.
Dallas gained 304 yards of total offense. The Desperados ran for 105 yards on 28 carries. Gregson led the team with 54 yards on 14 carries and 2 TD. He also caught 5 passes for 37 yards and a TD. Voorhees went 21-of-36 passing for 205 yards, 1 TD and 1 INT. He was sacked once for a 6-yard loss. J.J. Hawes caught 5 passes for 68 yards. The Desperados will now face the Detroit Drive for the Arena Bowl championship. Dallas defeated Detroit in their previous meeting in Week 6 by a score of 28-27.
San Jose gained 390 yards of total offense. The Sabercats ran for 72 yards on 20 carries. Sale led the team with 30 yards on 10 carries and a TD. Carey went 24-of-36 passing for 327 yards and 2 INT. He was sacked once for a 9-yard loss. Turk Costigan was San Jose's leading receiver with 7 catches for 119 yards.
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